YOGESWARAN JAGADEESAN , VIJAY PRATHAP SINGH2 AND ANANDARAJ BALAIAH
Abstract
Aedes aegypti are considered to be the main vector of a group of arboviruses responsible for dengue and yellow fever. In an attempt to find natural bioactive compound that could be employed in the effective control of dengue mosquito, nine different marine macroalgae were collected from Mandapam coastal region and extracted in organic solvents. The extracts were assessed for larvicidal activity against third instar larvae of Aedes aegypti. Analysis on the activity profile of the collected marine macroalgae indicated that the early stage larvae were very sensitive to two macroalgae that had been tested. Among the nine macroalgae tested, Jania rubens showed significant larvidical activity. In particular, hexane extract showed higher activity when compared to acetonitrile and acetone with a mortality percentage of 80% at 40 mg/mL at the incubation time 48 hour. This is the first report that envisaged the mosquito larvicidal activity efficacy of Jania rubens from South Indian coast. Therefore, this marine alga could be recognised as a potential resource of natural larvicide and can be developed to replace toxic chemical entity.